Unfortunately, the cause is not known.There is current research looking for answers but as of yet we don’t understand why people get fibromyalgia.

What tests are there to diagnose fibromyalgia?

Again, because it is not known what causes fibromyalgia, there are no specific tests .A physician usually rules out other conditions for which there are tests (rheumatoid arthritis, infection) and looks for complaints of the common symptoms above.Typically a diagnoses is made in people with widespread pain in arms, legs, and trunk that has lasted for at least 3 months and includes muscle tender points in 11 out of 18 spots.

At this point, there is not. Fibromyalgia tends to be chronic. Symptoms may vary and get better and worse throughout a person’s life.

Does exercise really help?

The quick answer is definitely yes.However, the best exercise for fibromyalgia is not necessarily the typical exercise program for a normal person.People with fibromyalgia have special needs and considerations related to their fatigue and difficulty with recovering from activities. When fibromyalgia sufferers follow the well-meaning advice of friends and family to “just exercise” to feel better, they tend to overdo it and pay the price and experience a lot of pain afterwards.It helps to work with a physical therapist that works with this population to help ease into a program that will help improve symptoms without too much tiredness or pain.

What is the best course of action for someone with fibromyalgia?

I see a lot of people with fibromyalgia in my practice.The people who do the best follow a combination of treatments.They take medication to help with sleep and pain. In physical therapy they learn relaxation techniques, manage their daily activities in relation to their fatigue levels, and develop a workable gentle exercise program.Fibromyalgia is a chronic problem and there is no “cure” but the symptoms can be managed to allow for improvement in daily activities and function.